Diseases of the joints with today's development of medicine are not amenable to a final cure. Science does not stand still, but so far no remedy has been found that can restore pathologically damaged tissues. Patients in search of treatment have to try all kinds of drugs and methods. Often traditional medicine cannot offer an effective way. And then the patient begins to be interested in how to treat arthrosis of the knee joint with folk remedies.
Pros and cons of traditional medicine
Traditional medicine for arthrosis of the knee joint is used quite often. The disease is difficult to treat, gradually the mobility of the limb is limited. Even traditional therapeutic methods are aimed only at pain relief and prevention of complications. Patients and doctors are ambivalent about traditional medicine, but still resort to it when traditional medicine does not bring the desired result.
Treatment of knee arthrosis with folk remedies has both disadvantages and advantages. The advantages include:
- availability and low cost of most materials;
- many medicinal plants help to strengthen the immune system;
- few side effects;
- ease of use.
The raw materials that are used to treat the knee with folk remedies are often included in the preparations of pharmaceutical enterprises. Therefore, in most cases, alternative medicine is safe if you follow the dosage and rules of use. It's also worth noting that the recipes people use to treat osteoarthritis of the knee are passed down by word of mouth and have stood the test of time. However, care must be taken. Before starting any medicine, inform your doctor and listen to his recommendations.
Like any other methods, folk also have their drawbacks:
- the risk of allergic reactions;
- many techniques are denied by traditional medicine, their effectiveness is not confirmed by research;
- some recipes available on the Internet or published in newspapers and magazines are incorrect. For example, they may contain incompatible components;
- the same plant material produces a different effect, for example, herbs or fruits of different degrees of maturity, etc.
Most doctors are sympathetic to the use of traditional medicine recipes for this disease. Moreover, they themselves sometimes advise the patient some methods. But for treatment to be effective, it must be comprehensive. Therefore, using folk remedies, you should not reject traditional medicine.
Effective treatment methods
Basically, popular folk recipes for arthrosis of the knee joint suggest how to prepare anti-inflammatory drugs. The effect is achieved by accelerating local metabolic processes. This allows you to relieve pain, thereby improving knee mobility and stopping pathological processes.
Traditional medicine in this case is not limited to decoctions and ointments. It, like the traditional one, includes many methods and methods of influence. Most often, all kinds of ointments, rubbing, compresses and applications are used, that is, local remedies. It is their effect that is more noticeable. Less commonly used infusions and decoctions for oral administration.
It is important to remember that alternative medicine is most effective in the initial stages of pathology. So, the treatment of arthrosis of the knee joint of the 2nd degree with folk remedies will no longer show such a good result as at the very beginning of the disease.
Compresses for local use
It is difficult to imagine the treatment of knee pain with folk remedies without compresses. Patients often prefer this form of treatment. The compress improves blood microcirculation, which reduces inflammation and swelling. This makes the joint freer, facilitates the movement of the limb. A big plus of compresses is that they can usually be made from products that are always on hand.
Consider popular recipes:
- Oatmeal compress. Pour 5 tablespoons of "Hercules" with boiling water. There shouldn't be too much water. Cook the flakes over low heat for 8-10 minutes. The porridge should be viscous, not thick or runny. Cool the mass and wrap in gauze or natural cloth. Apply to the affected knee for several hours. You can fix it on the leg with plastic wrap and leave it overnight.
- Horseradish compress. Grate the root, cover with water and put on a slow fire. Do not bring to a boil, but just let it steam as the water heats up. After the mass, shake off the water, but do not wring out. Wrap horseradish in cotton cloth and apply to the knee for 2 hours. This recipe helps relieve pain.
- Cabbage compress. You need vegetable juice. Soak a wool handkerchief in the liquid. Apply to the joint before bed. You can use a cabbage leaf smeared with honey. Then fix it with tape. It is convenient to leave such a compress overnight.
As you can see, all components are completely safe. They can bring harm only to allergy sufferers. Compresses should be applied until the main symptom, pain, is relieved. You can carry out the procedure daily, but it is recommended to take breaks after the course of 21-30 days. It is most convenient to apply compresses before going to bed and leave them overnight.
Tinctures and decoctions
Tinctures are made with alcohol or water. Plants or their components serve as raw materials. Some infusions and decoctions can be taken orally, while others are used to prepare compresses or ointments. Infusions and decoctions are usually prepared from herbs that have anti-inflammatory effects. You can use tools from one component, or from several. But do not forget to study their interaction with each other.
For tinctures and decoctions for arthritis, the following raw materials are widely used:
- lingonberry leaves;
- grass and chamomile flowers;
- chestnut fruits;
- cinquefoil;
- birch buds;
- calendula flowers;
- hop cones;
- wormwood grass.
Topical application of tinctures and decoctions usually has no side effects. When taking them inside, you should be careful. In addition to allergic reactions, they can also cause malfunctions in the digestive tract.
It is worth remembering that it is better to use only a freshly prepared product.
Therapeutic baths with herbs
Many patients, being in constant search for an answer to the question of how to relieve pain in arthrosis of the knee joint, discover healing baths. Localization of the pathology complicates the procedure a little. It will be more convenient to make full-fledged baths on herbs. With the help of them, the patient not only affects the knee, but also relaxes, which is also important for treatment.
Baths with pine needles are useful (can be used together with branches). The raw material is dipped in hot water, allowed to brew until the water has cooled to an acceptable temperature, and removed. This bath can be taken for 20 minutes. Jerusalem artichoke is also used to prepare baths. Several tubers are washed and cut, and then dipped in hot water. Add a tablespoon of turpentine and take a bath when the water cools down a bit.
In order for the effect to be noticeable, the procedure should be carried out 10-12 days in a row.
Mud treatment
Peloid therapy is often prescribed by doctors for patients with arthrosis. The patient is sent to a sanatorium, which uses mud with suitable properties. Saki and Essentuki are popular in our country. Such therapy helps to accelerate recovery, normalizes blood circulation and local metabolism.
In addition to the effect on the joint, therapeutic mud removes toxins and slags from the body, which also has a positive effect on treatment. Usually, after rehabilitation in a sanatorium or resort, the patient notices an improvement and is in high spirits, which makes further therapy easier.
Applications with medicinal plants
Applications with various additives are carried out to patients during physiotherapy in a hospital setting. But at home you can take such procedures using herbs and paraffin for this. Applications are also made from therapeutic mud or clay, which are enriched with decoctions of plants.
The difference between this method and conventional compresses is that the lotion must have a chemical, thermal and mechanical effect on the affected area. This is achieved by applying gruel from a plant that has an irritating effect to the knee. You can preheat it to add thermal influence. A mechanical effect can be obtained by applying an adhesive tape to the knee with watermelon, sunflower, melon or buckwheat seeds glued to it.
Rubbing with camphor and fats
In folk medicine, the treatment of joints with camphor oil is often practiced. The substance is used both in pure form and in a mixture with other components. It is believed that this helps to partially restore lubrication for the joints, but this is a very controversial statement, which has not yet been confirmed by official medicine. One thing is for sure - folk remedies with camphor effectively relieve pain. For the treatment of arthrosis of the knee, 10% oil is needed, but alcohol is also suitable.
Patients notice a positive effect after rubbing with fats. Most often used badger, less often - pork or beef. The latter usually serve as the basis for herbal ointments. Badger fat is also used in its pure form.
Fats and camphor in the form of rubs dilate blood vessels, which provide a rush of blood to the knee and improve trophism.
Effective wrapping with mummy and honey
There is another effective recipe that contains the answer to the question of how to cure the knee joint. Folk remedies often involve the use of mummy, a resinous substance of natural origin. Mixed with bee products, it gives a strong analgesic effect. To prepare the medicine, you need to combine 100 g of liquid honey and 0. 5 g of mummy.
Wraps are done in the evening and left for the whole night, and in the morning the remains are washed off. The procedure is repeated for 10 days, after which they take a break for 2-3 days and, if desired, continue the course.
Hirudotherapy
This method does not quite fit the definition of "folk remedies", because it is possible only in a clinic, but it is still considered unconventional. As the observations of specialists have shown, hirudotherapy is effective for the treatment of arthrosis of the knee joint. The use of medical leeches is possible only as part of complex therapy.
The effect is due to enzymes that are injected into the patient's blood during a bite. Thanks to these substances, blood circulation improves and pain is relieved.
When to refuse folk treatment
Treatment of the knee with folk remedies is not always possible and useful. It should be understood that with 2 and 3 degrees of joint damage, one should listen first of all to the recommendations of doctors. In this situation, traditional medicine will not help, but rather exacerbate the problem. Non-traditional treatment should be stopped immediately if new symptoms occur, pain increases, or an allergic reaction occurs. It is also necessary to visit a doctor, where you can consult about the advisability of using folk remedies.
Today, doctors are looking for a medicine that would help cure joint diseases without denying natural remedies. As with the use of any other remedy, care should be taken not to ignore the methods of official medicine.